OPPOSITION MANIFESTO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 9 December 1914, Page 4

OPPOSITION MANIFESTO.

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE DO-MINION*. THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. , Invercargill, Last Night. The following manifesto to the electors has been issued by Sir Joseph Ward, leader of the Liberal party:— "The duty devolves upon me as .loader of the Liberal party to state the reasons why it is ■ desirable in the general interests of the country that a change of Government should take plaee. In the first place, the Givernment does not represent a majority of the electors. They admittedly attained office on a minority vote. They proclaimed themselves Reformers, anxious <oaly for the welfare of the Dominion and its people, but the mask they adopted by makiug pledges and promises on a number of great issues was too transparent to deceive the mass of the electors. The majority of those pledges have not been carried out. At the ' P O Hs the Reform party secured scarcely three-eighths of the votes east.. The will of a large majority of tlie electors was, shown to be emphatically against the Reformers, and yet for over two and a . half years in this democratic country a party that was decisively rejected by the people has held the reins of office.

"It is needless to recall the political intrigue by which this amazing injustice to the expressed will of the democracy was effected.

BROKEN PROMISES. _ "Mr. Massey promised that the cost of living was to be reduced by the beneficent legislation of Reform. It has increased during the past three years more than ever before.

"Taxation was to be substantially reduced. It has not been reduced by a single penny, except in the eft3e of a small section of people who are well enough oil' to .pay income tax. "Mr. Massey promised a. scheme of insurance against sickness and uenmnloyment, but since he took office lie~doea not appear to have given the scheme a second thought. He promised a reform of the economic system in the direction of promoting industrial peace, but, instead of observing this promise, he has imposed upon the workers conditions that have provoked only industrial unrest.

'He promised a 'square deal all round,' especially to labor. ' 'What labor legislation lias he placed on the Statute Book during the last three years? The only progressive measure seeking to benefit the workers was introduced by a private member, not by the Government, and was ruthlessly' killed by 1 Mr. Massey's nominees in tho Legislative Council. His profession of solicitude for Labor can no longer deceive anyone. "The Reform.Covcramcnt promised the promotion of closer settlement by providing land for willing, capable men without means, in Tcspect to both Crown and Native lands, but the legislation and administration have unjustly favored the wealthier to the disadvantage of the poorer settler. " 'Reform' promised the extirpation of the political patronage it charged against my colleagues and myself, but never before has political patronage been so flagrant and persistent as at the present time. These are matters of common knowledge, and need no recital here.

"The 'square deal' has been a wretched pretence for the strong, self-reliant administration the country was promised. There have been substituted vacillating and inaction on great issues vitally affecting the masses. This young country can afford to be progressive. It has inexhaustible resources and a virile, intelligent, industrious people, eager for tile promotion of the welfare of the spirit of the people, calls for progress, courage, initiative, and scrupulous fairness, without which 110 real social progress is possible.

THE LIBERALS' RECORD. "I ask you to review t]io record of tile Liberal party in legislation and administration during its twenty-one years of office, and to compare it with the record of the last two and a half years. Then recall who in the past have been the obstinate opponents of progress in this country. The Conservative party opposed and voted against important measures which were designed to help the aged, the landless, thp farmers, and the workers. Amongst measures they opposed were the Old-age Pensions scheme, Land for Settlements Act, Advances to Settlers Act, Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and the compulsory acquisition of landed estate, and State Arc insurance. Indeed, practically all the advanced measures they are now administering were strongly opposed and condemned by them, while in many instances failure was predicted for them.

THE NAVAL QUESTION. "Their attitude on the naval question, advocating a local navy as against an Empire navy, is one to which I feel sure the bulk of the people of the Dominion was opposed. The Dreadnought was a free and unconditional gift to the British Government, yet the Reform party deliberately state it was a condition that the gift battleship was to remain in the Pacific. This is absolutely contrary to fact. They profes3 to give as a reason for their advocacy of a local navy the fact that the H.M.S. New Zealand was sent to the North Sea, where she has already done magnificent service for the Empire. The First Lord of the Admiralty publicly declared in the House of Commons for one Empire navy, and against a local, yet the Reform Government, with fatuous indifference, persist in supporting a local navy, with the enormous burden of extra taxation it must imposo on the taxpayers of this young country. It is surely akin to madness, remembering the public works, running I into many millions, which are still necessary for the reasonable requirements of the Dominion.

THE FINANCIAL POSITION. "The financial position aa disclosed by tho Government is alarming. The ordinary expenditure in two years has increased by nearly two millions per annum. In the same period the surplus has fallen frbm £BOO,OOO to £320,000. There is an inflated public buildings vote of £1,400,000 in two years, and to .provide for this unparalleled and unnecessary sum the financial requirements, both for railway construction and roads and bridges, have been woefully restricted. Advances to settlers, workers, and local bodies have also been curtailed, and great inconvenience caused all over the country by tho erratic and reduced payments made by this department. LAND SETTLEMENT.

GOVERNMENT BY OOMBOaSIOK

"Two ayatema have been applied to ■ J tho_ Public- Service, ono' large seotion re- - ; 3 maining under the Government* control* ; i and another large' section entirely under the dominance of the Public Service Commissioners, and beyond the control of either the people or Parliament Both systems cannot be right. "I affirm, my strong belief in. State control of all the great public services. There are many important administrative acts on the part, of the Govern-. • ment that one could, on strong grounds, 'adversely comment upon. I must, how- . ; | ever, avoid details.

THE WAR. "I make no remark on anything connected with war administration of the Government. The time for. this will com? after tlie war is over. In> the meantime the Liberals have sunk: all party differences on this great quoation, on which ~ all parties should be united in. action and assistance until the Empire has, with lier 1 Allies, won, and is on top. "Tlie 'Liberals, who established universal military training, gave a Dread- ' - nought, appointed General Godley, es- V tablished preferential trade with Great ' Britain, and brought Lord Kitchener to New Zealand to give the Government and 3 the people the benefit of his experience ' * and knowledge, may bo relied on to - r maintain that marked and unswerving ■ loyalty, patriotism, and assistance to the "?j| proud old flag that fortunately all see- 'm tions of the community are united ■in if doing. ;f THE "RED FED," BOGEY. • *

"As showing the weakness of big poaition, Mr. Massey's last cry is "Red Fed." Yet, unquestionably, he publicly supported them in the last election. iHin purpose is to create a feeling of in- v' security. On the one hand, we have the J extreme Conservative, the element that' v dominates the Reform party, seeking to set the rest of the community against labor, on the plea that giving Labor a ' "*■ voice in. politics means anarchy. On the other hand we have militant Labor, seek* ; ing to create the impression that the ' ' employer and the capitalist are' the enemies of Labor. Liberalism, on the contrary, seeks the common good of all classes in the community. It realises that the first essential to progress is the maintenance of law and order; that . the more advanced our state of civilisa- ■' tion is, the more desirable it becomes that we Bhould maintain the laws which enables that civilisation to be upehld. On the one hand, it is not to be ''<■ bought by the gold of the Conservative • ' reactionary, and, on the other, it is not going to be dictated to by any lawless 'section of the community. The extreme < sections seek to embitter class against class. The Liberals seek to reconcile all < classes, realising tlmt it is by all pulling together, if tjie rules are fair, that the best return can be secured for each individual.

WiHAT THE LIBERALS STAND FOR "In brief, the Liberals stand for justice, law, order, and progress. Remember that the opponents of,the Liberal party are now in office, with heatts unchanged, whatever their professions may be. It is for the electors to decide whether the 'Reformers'shall remain in power to retard and strangle the progress of this young country, or whether the' Liberals shall again have charge of the Dominion's affairs, to promote the economic soeial measure they have laid before' them during ■ this election campaign. I have little doubt of your decision, and this last word is merely to remind you all of the great issues at stake. Three years ago tho.Liberal party fought 4 fair fight with clean hands. It has nothing to hide, and nothing to disguise.. Arrayed against it are all the weapons and every influence wealth and social position can command. It is on your sense of fair play no less than on your sense of right and justice that I rely for a verdict on Thursday next that will make for sane and progressive legislation, prudent and vigorous administration, and for the permanent welfare of New Zealand, and the happiness and prosperity of every section of its people. "JOSEPH GEORGE WARD."